On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, Meeting Member Evan Low joins host Cecilia Lei to debate the boundaries of state laws — and the assist that AAPI communities want now.

Plus: The Chronicle’s Nora Mishanec, who was on the scene in Half Moon Bay, talks about protecting her third mass taking pictures in her three-year profession as a reporter.

You may hear by clicking the participant above, or by downloading the episode in your favourite podcast app. 

Beneath is a transcript, which has been edited for size and readability.

Photograph above: Rep. Evan Low in 2018

Cecilia Lei: As People, we have sadly develop into used to those tragedies. However the back-to-back Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay shootings have hit very near residence for our communities. What stands out to you about these newest occasions?
 
Rep. Evan Low: It is only a punch within the abdomen. I can not assist however be human [in response] to the mindless tragedies which can be preventable. And why I am not solely simply dumbfounded however with blended feelings is that I feel on a regular basis Californians consider that we have to demand extra from our authorities. And I am telling you, particularly as a policymaker, that we now have completed every little thing that we are able to probably can do within the state of California. As you recognize, California has the strictest legal guidelines on the books with respect to defending our residents from firearms. And but, due to the Supreme Court docket and the courts and likewise the Republicans, we’re not seeing the kind of motion that we have to see. I’m hesitant to speak about it from being considered or interpreted as a partisan subject, however I simply want to talk info. And the info are such that we as policymakers and the Democratic Occasion consider in stricter firearm rules. You do not see that from the rank and file within the Republican Occasion. So info are cussed, however that’s the fact.
 
Cecilia Lei: To repeat what you stated, California is thought for being actually powerful to purchase a gun. You are saying we have completed every little thing we are able to. And simply to checklist a few these issues that we have completed, we now have obligatory ready intervals, background checks for firearms purchases. We’re considered one of simply eight states that bans army assault weapons, and we’re one of many first to enact a crimson flag legislation. And but, right here we’re. This shooter in Half Moon Bay obtained the semiautomatic handgun used within the taking pictures legally. It was registered in his title. As a policymaker, what’s your name to motion now? Is there something extra we are able to do?
 
Rep. Evan Low: There may be all the time extra that we are able to do. I might recommend that we’re dancing across the elephant within the room and simply attempting to make adjustments across the periphery. We’re the one industrialized nation on the earth who has this systemic drawback. No different nation has this drawback. Why? As a result of firearms will not be allowed, interval. And at what time limit will we are saying, “Sufficient is sufficient”? The argument on the opposite facet is the Second Modification, and let’s simply shield it and we have to have the correct to bear arms. However after all, as we evolve as a society, we have to be asking these key questions: Is there societal function and is that this not devastating our nation and the material of our society? Once more, let’s discuss info. We’re not even completed with the complete first month within the new yr. And already greater than 35 mass shootings, greater than the quantity of days which have handed within the month of January. So, once we’re eager about the kind of society that we need to see, sure, there may be extra that we are able to do. We have to be demanding extra from our authorities elected officers. And for these officers who have not pledged their dedication to advocating for retaining our communities secure, we have to go to creating certain that these elected officers who do not share that very same ideology and that key precept of defending on a regular basis residents, that we maintain them to account.

Cecilia Lei: Are there particular sorts of laws that you are looking at in the intervening time?
 
Rep. Evan Low: I am going to share with you simply by the fundamentals of Civics 101 with the three branches of presidency right here in California — the executive department, which is the governor, the legislature after which the courts. So, within the governor and the legislature, we now have completed all that we are able to to assist put the legal guidelines on the books with respect to even enhancing a number of the key legal guidelines that you have talked about: age necessities of 21 years and vital background checks on ammunitions, stopping those that have felony historical past from possessing firearms as effectively. These sort of legal guidelines, sadly, have been additionally held up within the courts. So we have to take a look at different approaches and making certain that different states are doing their elements, in addition to placing strain on our federal representatives who additionally hail from the state of California.
 
Cecilia Lei: Now, do you assume we’re doing a adequate job of imposing the gun legal guidelines that we have already got in place? 

Rep. Evan Low: We are able to all the time be doing higher with enforcement. We are able to additionally make the most of expertise with the Nationwide Registry of Ballistic Imaging, which is to trace casings of ballistics utilized in felony instances in order that if the firearm used is utilized in one felony case, we are able to observe that and discover out who the perpetrator and perpetrators have been.
 
Cecilia Lei: Now, you have talked about different state lawmakers and likewise the federal lawmakers as effectively. Are you having conversations with them? What would you wish to see them do proper now?
 
Rep. Evan Low: We’re, after all, in conversations with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures. That’s primarily the affiliation of the 50 state legislatures inside america. And oftentimes we’re passing resolutions to assist be sure that we are able to take a look at some sort of different compact. There are, after all, alternatives for different states to cross what we seek advice from as compacts, agreements with different states, in order that once you get, for instance, two thirds of the states within the nation to cross any such compact, you may see federal motion. However when you concentrate on how tough it’s to amend america Structure, we have to take a look at it by state by state degree as effectively.

Cecilia Lei: Now, as a result of federal gun laws principally feels unimaginable in the intervening time. Inform me extra about how that makes California susceptible. I imply, we hear lots we are able to do what we are able to throughout the borders of our state, however weapons are coming in from different states as effectively. Proper?
 
Rep. Evan Low: Properly, there’s quite a lot of issues that we are able to do. It isn’t simply merely it from a state perspective and ready for the cavalry to reach and a few magic factor will occur the place policymakers will step in magically. However it’s additionally to assist effectuate change within the non-public sector. It is well-known that Dick’s Sporting Items throughout the previous few years rescinded its coverage and is now not promoting vital firearms due to these circumstances. So, there’s a lot that may very well be completed when it comes to the general public outcry. It is also ensuring that we hit their pocketbooks, making certain that the kind of investments, or frankly, the divestments in these pension funds wherein they’re targeted on firearms. So, there’s a lot that a person can do outdoors of searching for the treatment from a public official or from authorities to have the ability to be sure that we’re utilizing the facility of the purse to assist direct accordingly.
 
Cecilia Lei: Meeting Member Evan Low, you talked about how the Supreme Court docket was making gun laws powerful to cross within the nation. The courtroom just lately set a brand new constitutional normal for gun restrictions, which suggests states like ours must combat to keep up our present gun legal guidelines. What’s the message that California has to maintain asserting proper now?
 
Rep. Evan Low: Properly, we can’t simply merely say that we’ll throw our palms up due to the Supreme Court docket. The founding fathers talked in regards to the equal — once more, key phrase equal — branches of presidency with the chief, legislative and judicial department. So, sure, it’s unlucky that the judicial department has taken a glance and stricken quite a lot of legal guidelines, however we then will check out numerous different approaches to then amend the Structure to creating certain that we are able to shield on a regular basis residents in our lives. By the way in which, many of those legal guidelines on the books are smart. Ballot after ballot, overwhelming quantity of residents assist primary security gun legal guidelines. In different phrases, the legal guidelines that we handed don’t are available battle to the Second Modification, which is the correct to bear arms. We’ve got the correct to bear arms, however with smart rules. Simply as we perceive that we’d adjust to smart rules of the searches once we go to board an airplane. There are smart mechanisms in place that don’t inhibit and are [not] mutually unique to the rights of on a regular basis residents, whereas additionally ensuring that we shield people as effectively.
 
Cecilia Lei: Meeting Member Low, you might be additionally the chair of the state’s Asian-American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. Communities are actually hurting proper now, and that is alleged to be a time of pleasure and celebration due to Lunar New 12 months. What sort of assist do you assume must occur for these communities proper now?
 
Rep. Evan Low: Plenty of issues. Some ways to uplift the AAPI neighborhood. I first need to acknowledge AAPI neighborhood members in journalism and in media as a result of it is about their perspective and lived experiences that they will additionally present an necessary voice within the newsroom to creating certain that this adequately will get lined. Quantity two, to assist be sure that we offer an area for grieving and and solidarity. There are sometimes instances worker help packages to permit for many who are grieving to entry these sources. Moreover, corporations oftentimes present matching funds to community-based organizations doing work on this area. After which lastly, I additionally assume it is necessary that we now have alternatives to uplift the voices inside numerous sectors of visibility. That is why it is necessary that we see extra Asian-People in Hollywood in leisure, we see extra in journalism and in media, and in authorities and in enterprise alike. So there are various issues and alternatives for solidarity for us to work on this capability, as a result of whereas we take into consideration the victims and the particular people impacted in these communities, whether or not it’s Half Moon Bay or Monterey Park, it additionally hits the psyche — particularly as we’re popping out of COVID, the influence of Asian hate and now with these mass shootings.
 
Cecilia Lei: We now know that the shooters in each the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay mass shootings have been Asian aged males. What does that spotlight for you when it comes to sources wanted for the neighborhood?
 
Rep. Evan Low: Properly, I feel there is a complexity round these points, too. And so many people rapidly are to leap to saying that this additionally doubtlessly may very well be Asian hate. However I feel it is necessary to, primary, acknowledge the problems particularly and the info. The info reveal that a lot of the violence, whether or not it’s home violence or in any other case, are resulting from that of the prevalence of firearms in our communities. So, what should we do to assist be sure that these will not be so available? And quantity two, how can we guarantee that for the victims — we won’t neglect in regards to the victims — that they’re equally supported as effectively? 

There may be oftentimes a stigma additionally related to psychological wellness within the AAPI neighborhood, and we have to get round that. So many [people] really feel like they do not consider they want the kind of assist and entry due to the cultural norms that we’re sturdy, that we need not entry public providers and/or frankly, it isn’t in [multiple] languages. So, we’re doing all that we are able to to boost these providers and get the assist the place individuals want it essentially the most.

After which thirdly, that of entry and responsiveness from rank-and-file legislation enforcement. As a result of that is requiring cultural sensitivity, how can we guarantee that we now have Asian Pacific Islanders throughout the ranks of legislation enforcement, in order that they too, may be a part of the neighborhood and that they really feel like they could be a good surrogate to have the ability to converse to those communities instantly impacted?
 
Cecilia Lei: I additionally need to ask you this query, since you’ve been such an enormous advocate for the neighborhood. Are you nervous that as a result of the shooter’s identification is Asian, that it’s going to divert consideration away from the work that you have been doing round security for the AAPI neighborhood and anti-Asian racism? These are such charged and emotional conversations that get very divisive actually fast.
 
Rep. Evan Low: These points are complicated. I might say our neighborhood can also be evolving. That is additionally a part of the maturity of a neighborhood. We’re the most important demographic of the Bay Space and in Monterey Park. And so with that maturity and with that progress, additionally comes these related complicated points. And what’s necessary is that we assist dissect particularly these numerous parts and never bounce too rapidly to make assertions and conclusions. So once more, once we take into consideration the info, what’s the overarching subject with respect to those two shootings and in Half Moon Bay and in Monterey Park? Firearms particularly. So how can we handle that subject of violence and firearms? And naturally, it comes with cultural sensitivity to have the ability to say, how can we guarantee that we do not fall into the lure of getting Asian on Asian violence and pitting communities towards one another, however ensuring that we’re doing so with grace and likewise trying on the specifics of knowledge.
 
Cecilia Lei: , it appears like we preserve having the identical gun debate over and over. The whole lot feels actually bleak. Is there something across the topic of weapons or gun violence that you just really feel inspired by or hopeful about? I am hoping we are able to finish on some optimism, if we are able to discover it.
 
Rep. Evan Low: Properly, once more, with the extent of maturity, many communities have been the targets of violence, particularly with respect to firearms. The LGBT neighborhood, for instance, in Orlando, was thrust proper into the dialog. And now the LGBT neighborhood has prioritized that of firearm rules much like the Jewish neighborhood. And now that we’re speaking about our AAPI neighborhood, we’re equally now thrusted. We do not need the posh of standing on the sidelines. It is now not not collaborating and being apolitical and apathetic. However that is our subject now, and we should use this chance to provoke our neighborhood in speaking a couple of cohesive message and which all of us stand for. We’re not monolithic by any means as a neighborhood — Chinese language, Korean, Hmong, Laotian — however throughout the traces, we all know that we are able to now say that we must always get up for the sanctity of life and standing up towards the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in our streets.